Former Ilocos Sur Governors Luis “Chavit” Singson INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The nephew of former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson filed a graft complaint against officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and other Cabinet officials on the sale of the “Payanig” property, which he claims is owned by his company and not part of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos’ ill-gotten wealth.
Blemp Commercial of the Philippines Inc. owner Richard Singson filed the complaint Wednesday against PCGG chairman Andres Bautista, and Commissioners Ma. Ngina Teresa Chan-Gonzaga and Vicente Gengos Jr.
The complaint also involved the following Cabinet officials who comprised the Privatization Council – Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Finance Undersecretary John Phillip Sevilla (also Bureau of Customs commissioner), Finance Undersecretaries Jeremias Paul Jr. and Jose Emmanuel Reverente, Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad, Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo, Justice Secretary Leila De Lima, National Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon, Finance chief of staff Ma. Lourdes Recente, Finance Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresa Habitan, and Privatization and Management Office chief officer Karen Singson.
The PCGG as tasked by the Privatization council published for bidding the 18.5 hectare “Payanig” property in the corner of Ortigas and Meralco Avenues at a minimum price of P16.45 billion.
After the 1986 People Power Revolution, businessman Jose Campos, president of Mid-Pasig Land Development Corp. and a known Marcos crony, surrendered to the PCGG the two land titles of the company.
Touted as a “crown jewel” in the Ortigas Center, the prime real estate came to be known as the “Payanig” property because of the big carnival that operated there in the 1990s.
The complainant said the property was bought by Blemp Commercial from the previous owner Mid-Pasig Land Development Corporation on Oct. 15, 1971.
Singson’s lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan said the PCGG has no business in the sale of the Payanig property.
“In the law, they are only allowed to sequestrate properties of Marcos cronies. Blempt Corporation has nothing to do with President Marcos,” Alentajan said.
“They’re offering it for sale. The Privatization Council ordered PCGG to conduct the bid that is illegal. Wala naming pakialam ang Privatization Council dito, wala naman silang interest dyan,” he added.
According to the complaint, the respondents should be charged for graft for “conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping one another, with manifest, partiality, evident bad faith, and gross inexcusable negligence, unlawfully and feloniously caused the publication in various newspapers circulated nationwide, the ‘invitation to bid.’”
“The concerted acts of the respondents are patently illegal and criminal, because they have no legal personality or authority to sell the property lawfully owned by complainant Blemp Commercial,” the complaint read.
“Respondents are unlawfully and feloniously bent to deprive, the true and absolute powers of their real estate property without due process of law,” it added.
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